My father, Li Shimin, please call me Crown Prince

Chapter 458 Arab Army Under the Moonlight

In the late autumn of the twenty-fifth year of the Zhenguan era, news of the great defeat of the Tubo at Langxiao Fort spread throughout the Pamir Mountains as if it were a divine revelation.

The roar of Tang army muskets collapsing copper sand fortresses and the horrific sight of lead bullets tearing through cavalry formations spread throughout Central Asia through the mouths of defeated soldiers and merchants.

"The firearms of the Tang Dynasty were like thunderbolts, capable of taking a life from a hundred paces away."

“Three thousand Tibetan warriors defended the fortress, but within an hour they were reduced to ashes. Even the Zanpu’s brother abandoned his flag and fled.”

These rumors, like a whirlwind, stirred up a storm in the Arab expeditionary force's camp.

In the Arab camp west of the Pamir Mountains, the campfire illuminated the somber faces of the generals. General Hamid held a lead bullet captured from the fleeing Tibetan soldiers, his fingers tracing the bloodstains on the bullet, his voice hoarse like a desert wind: "May God have mercy, for this small piece of metal possesses such power. The copper sand walls of Wolf Howl Fortress were breached by the Tang army's artillery fire, as if God's thunder had cleaved through the rocks."

“General, the scouts saw it with their own eyes,” a lieutenant reported, bowing and his voice trembling.

"The Tang army's musketeers lined up in three rows, firing in rapid succession like a torrential downpour. The Tibetan soldiers' leather armor was as thin as paper before the lead bullets. The defensive methods taught by the Arab craftsmen were completely useless against their firearms. This was not war, but punishment sent down by God!"

Silence fell inside the tent, broken only by the crackling of the campfire.

Hamid slammed the lead bullet down on the table, sparks illuminating his gray beard: "The tragedy of Talas last year is still fresh in my mind! Thirty thousand loyal believers fell under the muskets, General Khalid was killed, and Amr's remnants have yet to be replenished. The Caliph sent us here to protect the trade routes bestowed by God, not to make these twenty thousand cavalry suffer another pointless sacrifice!"

An old general wearing silver ornaments rose, placed his hand on the curved sword at his waist, and said, "May God illuminate your decision, General!"

"Our iron cavalry is the pillar of the empire, the nobles of the former Persian lands are still secretly watching, and the tribes of North Africa may rebel at any time. Last year, we lost 30,000 warriors, which has delayed the pace of suppressing the rebellion by half a year."

"If these 20,000 elite troops are lost at Pamir, God be my witness, the empire's borders will be engulfed in flames!"

“But the Caliph’s order is to assist in the defense of Tibet,” the young general retorted in a low voice. “If we retreat without a fight, wouldn’t that be disobeying the holy command?”

"Disobeying the Holy Command?" Hamid sneered, pointing to the Amu Darya River on the map: "God teaches us to weigh the pros and cons! Is it more important to protect the trade routes and tax revenues of Central Asia, or to protect the military strength to suppress the rebellion?"

"Tibet was already like a candle flickering in the wind, and the power of the Tang army's firearms far exceeded expectations."

"If we stay, it will only stain the stones of the Pamir Mountains with the blood of our soldiers, which will be of no benefit to the Empire. This is not cowardice, but taking responsibility for the military force given to us by God!"

Generals who had personally experienced the Battle of Talas echoed this sentiment: "When the Tang army's muskets fired in unison, the cavalry was simply unable to charge, like lambs facing a lion."

"Our camp is not as fortified as the Tibetan fortress. If the Tang army attacks, we will only repeat the fate of Talas. May God guide us to preserve our strength and protect our true home!"

Hamid stood up and placed his hand on the Quran: "Issue my order: break camp tonight! The supply train, carrying God's grace, shall go first, with the cavalry bringing up the rear, and retreat along the Amu Darya River. Withdraw from the Pamir Mountains within three days."

“Tell the soldiers that we are not retreating, but obeying the will of God. The land of the empire needs warriors to protect it. We should not waste our lives on defeated allies.”

The deputy general hesitated and asked, "Should we notify Tibet?"

Hamid shook his head: "Let them focus on their own war. God knows they don't even have time to resist the Tang army, let alone criticize us."

As night fell, the lights in the Arab military camp were extinguished one by one.

Camels carrying supplies traveled westward under the moonlight, with cavalrymen silently guarding their flanks. There were no horns, no shouts, only the soft sound of hooves fading into the night.

This expeditionary force, which was once highly anticipated, ultimately chose to retreat under the "guidance" of God. They preferred to protect the heartland of the empire rather than make a pointless sacrifice under the sharpness of firearms.

When the news reached Bolu, Songtsen Gampo spilled the butter tea he was holding on the ground.

The autumn winds of the Pamir Mountains whipped up dust, burying the traces of the Arab camp. The fame of Tang Dynasty firearms spread throughout Central Asia after this battle, and the westward retreat of the Arabs set the tone for this game ahead of time.

As Hamid said, faced with the vast territory bestowed by God and the formidable enemy before them, they chose to protect the more fundamental foundation of the empire. After all, the balance between faith and interests has always been the way of survival for the desert eagles.
-
In the late autumn of the twenty-fifth year of the Zhenguan era, in the palace of the Zanpu in Lhasa, the light of the butter lamps flickered violently in the cold wind, reflecting on Songtsen Gampo's ashen face.

When news of the Arab expeditionary force's westward retreat overnight, along with the battle report of the fall of Wolf Howl Fort, reached the hall, the silver bowl in his hand clattered to the ground, and scalding yak butter tea spilled onto his dark blue woolen robe, leaving dark stains, but he was completely unaware.

"Useless! A bunch of treacherous good-for-nothings!"

Songtsen Gampo suddenly kicked over the table, scattering the sheepskin map and bamboo slips all over the floor.

"Ben Zanpu gave them fifty loads of fine iron and asked them to send craftsmen to teach us how to build fortresses. They readily agreed to help defend the Pamir Mountains, but what happened? The Tang army had just breached one Wolf Howling Fortress and hadn't even had time to attack the second fortress when these cowards from the desert ran away faster than the wind!"

The red-robed nobleman trembled as he picked up the map, his fingers shaking so much he could barely hold the sheepskin: "Your Majesty, please calm down... Although the Tang army only breached Wolf Howl Fortress, three breaches were blasted into the copper sand wall, and the three thousand warriors scattered within an hour... Now they are stationed in Bolu, and although they haven't advanced westward, the merchants of the Western Regions say that Pei Xingjian is restoring his firearms, probably preparing for the next attack..."

"Shut up!" Songtsen Gampo interrupted sharply, his scarlet eyes sweeping over the trembling nobles in the hall: "Are you afraid too? Afraid that once they've rested, they'll come with those firearms that can kill from a distance and bombard the walls of Lhasa?"

At this moment, Gar Tongtsen, who had been silent all along, stepped forward. He was dressed in a plain robe, and although his expression was solemn, it was not without composure: “Your Majesty, please calm down. Anger is useless. Although the Tang army has broken through Wolf Howling Fortress, they have not pursued their victory, which shows that they also need to rest and resupply. This is precisely our chance to catch our breath. The most urgent task is to find a way out, not to reprimand our allies and subordinates.”

Songtsen Gampo glared at him: "A way out? Gar Tongtsen, tell me, what way out do we have in the face of cannons that can blast through mountain passes? Although they haven't advanced westward, the tragic state of Wolf Howl Fort is right before our eyes. Are we just going to sit here and wait for them to finish their rest?"

Lu Dongzan bowed and said, “Your Majesty, the Tang army has come from afar, and their losses after breaching Langxiao Fortress must have been considerable. They need to replenish their firearms, ammunition, provisions, and supplies. Especially in this snowy region in late autumn, the cold and snow will be their greatest enemies. Their current lack of attack is precisely the time for us to prepare. We may not be able to withstand their artillery fire, but we can avoid their onslaught.” A white-haired old nobleman interjected tremulously, “Lord Lu Dongzan, are you saying… we should abandon Lhasa?”

“No.” Lu Dongzan shook his head, his gaze falling on the settlements of various Tibetan tribes on the map: “We can order the tribes to temporarily disperse and move their grain and livestock to deep mountains and valleys.”

"If the Tang army finishes its rest and attacks, we will fortify our defenses and clear the fields, avoiding direct confrontation with them; if they divide their forces to plunder, we will use the terrain to harass their supply lines."

"The land of Tibet is our root. We are familiar with every inch of the mountains, forests and valleys. If we drag this out until the heavy snow closes the mountains, no matter how powerful the Tang army's firearms are, it will be difficult for them to stay in the snowy region for long."

The nobleman in charge of military affairs, his face pale, retorted, "But...but the defeat report from Wolf Howl Fortress is too frightening. The fleeing soldiers say that when the Tang army's muskets fired in unison, the warhorses were startled and ran amok, and the soldiers fell in droves before they could even draw their scimitars...Now the tribal leaders are all in a state of panic, and I'm afraid they can't organize an effective defense..."

Lu Dongzan remained unmoved: "The defeat at Wolf Howl Fortress was due to the fact that our cavalry charged into the firearms, which was not the right approach. We should have ordered our soldiers to abandon their horses and proceed on foot, using rocks and bushes as cover to harass the enemy with bows and arrows, instead of foolishly exposing themselves to the range of muskets."

"Although the Tang army's firearms are powerful, they are slow to reload. As long as we avoid their main force, we can always find an opportunity to counterattack. Besides, they have not yet launched a second attack, so we still have time to adjust our tactics."

Songtsen Gampo's grip on the knife loosened slightly, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes: "Wait until the heavy snow seals off the mountains? But Pei Xingjian's troops are stationed in Bolu, only three hundred li from Lhasa. If they finish their rest and launch a sudden attack, will we still have time?"

“Yes,” Lu Dongzan said firmly. “We can send an envoy to see Princess Wencheng and ask her to mediate, even if it’s just to get the Tang army to temporarily halt their attack and buy us time to evacuate our people. The Zanpu is the son-in-law of the Tang Dynasty, and this friendship will be our buffer.”

"At the same time, we will melt down all the copper and iron we can find in the city to reinforce the city walls of Lhasa. We will also dig trenches outside the city. If the Tang army wants to attack, they will have to fill the trenches and break down the city walls first. This is the time we are buying."

A young nobleman spoke with a sob in his voice: "But the Tang army's firearms are beyond what manpower can withstand! Their cannon fire can cause snow-capped mountains to collapse, and their lead bullets can penetrate leather armor... Even if we are prepared, how long can we hold them off?"

“If we can’t withstand the attack, we’ll just have to delay it.” Lu Dongzan interrupted him. “As long as we can get through this winter, the Tang army will run out of food and supplies next spring and will naturally retreat.”

"Tibetan warriors are not afraid to die, but they cannot die meaninglessly. Preserving the tribe's lineage is more important than momentary bravado. Now that they have not yet marched west, it is the best time for us to prepare."

Songtsen Gampo remained silent for a long time before slowly lowering his scimitar. Gar Tongtsen's words acted like a tranquilizer, allowing him to see a glimmer of light in his despair.

"Okay, I'll do as you say."

He took a deep breath. "Lu Dongzan, immediately organize the people to evacuate. Send the envoy to see Princess Wencheng with the utmost devotion. Let the red-robed nobles be fully responsible for reinforcing the city walls!"
-
Inside Princess Wencheng's residence in Lhasa, sandalwood incense wafted from a bronze incense burner, casting wisps of smoke on the princess's slightly pale face.

She was embroidering by the window, but the silk thread in her hands kept slipping and falling.

When Songtsen Gampo's envoy was led into the palace by a maid, she put down her embroidery frame and calmly looked at the newcomer.

The envoy, holding a hada (a ceremonial scarf), bowed and spoke urgently: "Your Highness, the Zanpu (King) has heard that the Tang army is training new firearms in Bolu and is deeply worried. He has specially sent me to plead with Your Highness... to intercede with the Tang army and temporarily halt the offensive."

Princess Wencheng did not accept the hada. Her fingertips gently caressed the unfinished peony pattern on the embroidery frame. Her voice was calm but carried a hint of imperceptible aloofness: "Mediation? Songtsen Gampo asked me, the princess, to mediate. Why didn't he come himself?"

The envoy was taken aback, beads of sweat forming on his forehead: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty is busy organizing defenses, reinforcing city walls, and relocating people. He is truly overwhelmed and therefore... therefore he has sent me to do it in your stead. Your Highness, the Tang army's firearms are now formidable, and Wolf Howl Fortress has already fallen. If we allow them to advance westward further, Lhasa City will be in imminent danger!"

"On the verge of collapse?" Princess Wencheng repeated softly, her gaze turning to the familiar snow-covered landscape outside the window.

She had been in Tibet for over ten years. Although Songtsen Gampo was busy with state affairs, he never mistreated her. He built palaces for her, taught her Central Plains skills, and even protected her entourage in tribal conflicts.

This affection made her no longer just a princess of the Tang Dynasty, but also the wife of the Tibetan king.

She stood up, walked to the envoy, and said with a complicated tone, "Go back and tell Songtsen Gampo that I am a princess of the Tang Dynasty and also the Zanmeng of Tibet. The Tang army is the army of my motherland, and Tibet is the country of my husband. How can you expect me to mediate?"

The envoy hurriedly said, "Your Highness, you are the link between the Tang Dynasty and Tibet! If you are willing to write a letter to the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty, explaining that Tibet has no hostile intentions and that it is just a misunderstanding, perhaps... perhaps the Crown Prince will give you a break for your sake. The Zanpu said that as long as the attack can be temporarily suspended, Tibet is willing to offer salt lakes and copper mines and become a vassal state of the Tang Dynasty forever."

Princess Wencheng felt a pang of conflict as she looked at the envoy's fearful expression.

How could she not know the perilous situation facing Tibet? When news of the defeat at Langxiao Fort arrived, she spent a sleepless night. If Songtsen Gampo fell, Tibet would inevitably descend into internal strife, and what good would come of her, a Zanmeng from the Tang Dynasty? The Central Plains culture and agricultural techniques she had painstakingly promoted over the years might all vanish in the face of war.

"Face?" She gave a bitter smile, walked to the bookshelf and took down a volume of the Book of Rites: "Li Chengqian, the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty, was a man who seized power at the Xuanwu Gate. In his sword fights, did the word 'face' ever exist?"

Even so, her fingers unconsciously slid across the spine of the book. Songtsen Gampo's kindness to her was genuine, as was the respect the Tibetan people held for her.

Her interests were already inextricably linked with this man and this land; their fortunes were intertwined, one prospered and the other suffered.

“However,” she changed her tone, her gaze becoming firm, “go back and tell Songtsen Gampo that I, the princess, can write a letter, but not to plead for him. It is to tell the Tang soldiers that the Tibetan people are innocent, and if war really breaks out, I beg them not to slaughter women and children.”

"Furthermore, I will help convey Tibet's willingness to make peace."

The envoy was overjoyed: "Thank you, Your Highness! The King will be eternally grateful when he finds out!"

“But you must also tell him,” Princess Wencheng’s tone became more serious, “Next time he has an important matter to ask of me, he must come in person. I am his wife, not an envoy he can order around at will.”

(End of this chapter)